The Namibian

NEWS - NAMIBIA | 2013-08-09

Caprivi is no more

Shinovene Immanuel

political boundaries of regions and constituencies

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday rushed through recommendations by the Delimitation Commission for the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to start preparations for next year’s elections.

The ECN was supposed to start with voters’ education in April or May this year. However, due to the lack of information on the results of the work done by the Delimitation Commission, the ECN was idle.

ECN Chairperson Notemba Tjipueja confirmed to The Namibian yesterday that they had started preparations for the election since they now know the boundaries and new names of regions and constituencies.

She said this after Pohamba put an end to three prominent colonial names of places by approving the renaming of the Caprivi Region to Zambezi Region while Lüderitz was changed to indigenous name !Nami≠Nüs Town.

Pohamba announced at a press conference at State House yesterday that Kavango Region has been split into two regions, namely Kavango East and Kavango West. That brings the total number of regions in Namibia to 14. Kavango Region has an estimated population of about 220 000.

“We could not educate voters or start anything without knowing the names of regions and constituencies,” Tjipueja said.

Pohamba has summoned Members of Parliament to attend a special session next week to amend the Electoral Act and extend the expiry date of the voters’ roll which ends on 31 August.

Presidential and National Assembly elections are expected next year while the proposes new deadline is February 2014 said Tjipueja.

She also admitted that, had the voters roll expired, they could have been exposed to lawsuits for not following procedures. “We can be challenged legally,” she said.

Tjipueja, however, insisted that they have not delayed and will now start with their preparations.

Pohamba said the latest delimitation decisions are part of efforts aimed at making the work of the ECN easier.

“The ECN will be in a position to produce a credible, transparent and verifiable national voters’ roll. Our citizens will be able to scrutinise the number of registered voters in every constituency or region,” he said.

The Delimitation Commission dominated news when they began their work early this year with some people, especially in Oshana, proposing tribal regions while border disputes erupted in the Kavango and Caprivi regions.

Caprivi, Schuckmannsburg and Luderitz were all names of senior German politicians during Namibia’s colonial era.

Caprivi was named after a German general and statesman, Count Leo von Caprivi, who was the German Chancellor between 1890 and 1894. Bruno von Schuckmann, the former governor of the then German Southwest Africa had a town named after him in the former Caprivi Region called Schuckmannsburg which will now be called Luhonono, an indigenous tree to that region.

Luhonono was the original name before it was renamed Schuckmannsburg.

Lüderitz, the southern harbour town which was named after Franz Lüderitz was changed to !Nami≠Nüs. Lüderitz was a tobacco merchant from Germany and is said to have founded the town.

Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1919.

The Karas Region has also been renamed //Karas Region.

Pohamba also announced that 14 new constituencies will be added to the current 107. These are Opuwo Rural in Kunene, Ondangwa Urban in Oshana, Oshikunde in Ohanwgena, Nehale ya Mpingana in Oshikoto, Aranos and Daweb in Hardap and Karasburg West in //Karas Region.

The other constituencies are Ndonga Linena in Kavango East while Kavango West will have Nkurenkuru, Tondoro, Mankupi and Ncamagoro.

The Zambezi Region will have Judea Lyaboloma and Kabbe South as new constituencies.

Also renamed is the Steinhausen Constituency in Omaheke Region to Okarukombe Constituency while Luderitz Constituency was renamed to !Nami≠Nüs Constituency.

Pohamba, who has not publicly commented on the initial recommendations made in the regions prior to the release of the report last month, said he took “great care” in considering the recommendations of the Commission.

“I took into account the fact that one of the cardinal principals of our Government is efficient service delivery to our nation,” he said.

According to him, citizens who live in rural areas are entitled to government services just like other citizens who live in urban areas.

“I therefore believe that the delimitation of our country into regions and constituencies as well as adjustments of the existing constituency boundaries will go a long way in bringing services closer to our people,” he added.

Pohamba also said that he was aware his decisions would be met with criticism.

“To those who complain that democracy is expensive, I say to them they should try chaos, anarchy, instability and disharmony. Very soon they will realise that democracy no matter how expensive is by far the better option.”

The Minister of Regional, Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Charles Namoloh described the decisions as “wishes of the people”.

The government is expected to fork out a fortune to pay for the costs that come with the decision to rename and form a new regions as well as constituencies.

However Namoloh believes “cost is not an issue” since the government will afford it.

Comments

It's a shame Swapo Government to Force Caprivians to change the name to Zambezi, 95% people in Caprivi are not Happy, Swapo Government Stoped Mr Mishake Muyongo to Cut and Rule he's Share if they did not Stop him all this Damn.! Stories couldn't happen, Still History talks Caprivi will Remain Caprivi, Swapo governmet its too Much. Am a Concerned Caprivian - Otto Muyunda

Can a person decide to change the name of caprivi if us people of caprivi refused that long time even caprivi regional council the are away of that lets us not be cowards let the trues be spoken,how many colonial names do we have in Namibia its even for history benefit 'so pls change Windhoek,swakopmund,walvis bay to mention few after change caprivi as you will not our will and where is democracy . - Vincent Mendai

I am glad that Kavango has been split into two regions. What that implies to me is that we will have more money from the government, more infrastructures, more employment for the youth and many more opportunities. I salute the GRN for taking such a great step. My wish is very simple: Kavango should have been renamed, too. Research points to various names, including Mboghe. Kavango has no meaning in Thimbukushu, my language. Be that as it may, we congratulate our leaders for everything they have done. Name change is way too costly. I just hope this will not increase our tax contribution, :-) - Servasius Manyandero

for me its a shame because us people of caprivi we were not consulted to change the region name in democratic society .ist hiden issue behind or what ,we have lot of names of colonial in Namibia why caprivi a target - Simataa Alex

what are the area codes for the new regions eg Khomas 061? i think its good though more jobs will be provided as these places will need own police force municipalety ect........ The renaming of Luderitz I am not so sure though but hey it also could work out for the best....... but i doubt the people living there would like it as I would not like Windhoek to be renamed.... - Dejan

I have just read all the comments below and find that most of them show a complete lack of knowledge of Namibian history. The German colonial period of Namibia is part of it's history and so are the names. It is quite likely that there would be no Namibia today without a German South West Africa. Present Namibia would just be parts of Angola and South Africa today. Furthermore the San were the origional inhabitants of most of present day Namibia. The Namibian people should recognize this. The Ovambo and Herero tribes came this area much later. So why not use the origional San names and give them back the land they origionally owned instead of discriminating against them. - Rudolf Berlin

How is !Nami≠Nüs actualy pronounced, Can some one provide a phonetic way of pronouncing it? ExlamationNamidoesnotequalNues? - Giordano Stolley

i m on the opinion of to change the name of Caprivi its un insult to the Caprivian people as that name was unifying us and only those who have an agenda couse of political as we know why Caprivi they changed it just im sure there too knows the answer but they time is very short they should start counting days and hrsas Zambezi is a river i adivise the gorvement to check thise in a very good otherwise they will loose what is theres we are not zambezi we are Caprivians i ask those pipo to stop misleading the gorvement - KALUSHA GILLIBY

It is very ironic that the name changes today removed the names of Caprivi and Luederitz from Namibian maps. These were were people that played a big role in defining the boundaries of Namibia in the 19th. century. Luederitz was instrumental in creation of GSWA without which SA and and Portuguese Angola would have probably annexed most of present day Namibia. The Europeans created all of Africa's boundaries for better or worse. I am just wondering if Namibia does not have more important things to do with it's tax money. - Rolf Ball

I can only comment by saying, this heralds a new era in the history of Namibia. It gaves great recognition to my ancestors, being a Nama son of the soil - born in Lüderitz - now !Nami≠Nüs. The name change is worth celebration. I would have like this announcement to have been made on the eve of Heroes day. In the spirit of National Reconcilliation - all Namibians should accept that this change is justifiable, correct and in good faith. For my fellow Nama folk I can only say this to the youth - Now is the time to turn a new page and start a new chapter in your own life. Live the dream of our ancestors. Down the bottle and up with the tools. Revamp your selfworth and restore your self respect. Pull back your shoulders and say out loud, "I am proud to be, I am somebody". This is a responsible decision taken by our august Government and Head of State - His Excellency - President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba. By Manfred Rupert Anderson - Manfred R Anderson

I give thanks to the paper for the news. Well, apart from all the changes and little stories created, I would like to point out that the changes made should be noted in the new History books as part of the History made, because I think in my opinion history continues, and this should not be forgotten in the books I state. After all maybe History subjects will be considered as extra ordinary interesting. I thank you. - Ba James

Wow...I am happy to see all these employment opportunities.. i think am standing a good chance of becoming a Governor/Council here. - Trophy

Its good that they changed some names,but there is still lots of names that needs o be changed like Khomas to /khomas,Swakopmund to Tsoaxaubams, Gochas to !Gochas the list is endless... - Tinsy

Having "our own things" is just an amazing move Namibia ever made! loving it to be just like the Russian! - hafeni

Why were the people of luderitz not involved in this name change. the name is not even easy to pronounce. rather develop the town than change the name - Buchter for life

i think the timing for these decisions is bad, there's a drought and various government workers are going on strike to increase their salaries. just imagine the expenses of changing the legislation, textbooks, maps , international documents, treaties (agreements) etc. it's a lot of money which could be used to improve the lives of people. i think we were getting on fine, e.g no civil wars and free education for gvt primary schools. we can not afford to set an off balance in our economy, the only thing that's keeping us up is the fact that our dollar is equivalent to the rand, the minute the dollar loses even a bit of it's value hehehe then we are gonna have MAJOR problems! that's my opinion. - Hope

grate start ryt there, next should be langueges - evelyn

This is a good idea bt u mst nt forgt b other areas that nid develipmnt 2 - Rachel

I believe the government is having its people at heart, That is why it is bringing the service close to the poeple and on the other hands these regions and concitituences will create employment for our youth, with in the ministerial structure at the regional level as well at the concitituence level, big hands to Dr Pohamba. - Kanyeumbo FT

"cost is not an issue ", how dare the government not increasing our salaries? Discussing names of regions and constituencies, instead of discussing serious issues. Is that what is needed by the nation? What is wrong with our leaders? Is that now vision 2030 in progress, by turning a blind eye on the nation? - William

how come there's only one constituency added in kavango west? i think ndiyona constituency were suppose to be devided into 2 constituencies and this goes the same apply to mashare?since this two constituencies are big. - DISHO JOHN

I think SWAPO should change their party name sometime... that name remind me of the colonial time... - Morty

i do think that the government has a reason to rename colonial names for the regions and set up the new constituencies,according to my opinion,it will speed up the services delivre, as well as the job creation to the new council and workers in their office.let see what is the next. - ARNOLD EKANDJO

That is fine and gud idea mr president. - markus ismael

About time for that 'Caprivian' thing. How I hated being called one. Considering that I was actually being called after a German colonialist! But then why didn't the President just name it it's original name Itenge? - Sinambao

Indeed the renaming of caprivi is a good desicion but....wasnt there any other name? because we already have Zambezi river........... - Junior wobubeli

Luderitz is no more, I recall the first cabinet has members like Lukas Pohamba to day we have Hifikepunye Pohamba...........hahaaaaaaaaaaa. I salute you Comrade President. It is high time we write cheque books in our local languages, why not if our own generations are the one working in banks and they are serving us in local languages - Tuhafeni

I would really like to know where this Franz Luderitz comes from? acording to history Adolf Luderitz is the person that the town was named after.... Namolah says that money is not an issue in changing this names but let us be realistic, poverty and hanger are still prevailing issues of national concern and that those are the issues government should tackel first instead of spendind millions on changing names.. - Haroldt Brandt

Bad to worse! I fail to understand African leaders especially Namibian Leaders! We want to change everything, specifically the things that don't contribute towards Economic Development, the answer is only known to YOU. THIS ONLY CONCERNS THE CHANGINGOF NAMES! In case you don't know, from a business perspective there are costs involved! 1. Changing and Printing of road signs (Ministry of Works and Transport N$ lost) 2. Adjustments in maps and historical values, change in subject content (Ministry Of Education N$ lost), Information to the rest of the world (Min. of Foreign Affairs and Min. of Information & Technology N$ lost), how much are we willing to spend Min of Finance? Take note, Namibians we have money to spend on plain BS! - Marcello Bock

is our gorvernment crazee or just plain fools! nearly half of the country leave in shacks or sub standard houses! if they have money let them build proper housing for its citizenry ! it just a political gimmick! its election time! wake up & smell the air namibia ,dont be fooled! - nangolo

I am happy to hear the exteded of the constituencies, i am sure now the idea of deceterazation will work on the society. - Sakaria p. Nehale

Helo Namibians.. We are heading for the scramble of naming places, institutions etc. History as a subject in school is described as "dead one" why? because of its inconstency in ways of answering and lack of precision [limted exact answers]. I caution you to be crictical to keep History of the country genuine. Caprivi is a name of somebody who was in the area, his voyage was an amusement to him, then he named the palce. now you want to name the area "Zambezi river" !!!!!. Be mindful that maps have to be designed and printed. This whole idea especially some names does not sound and invalid. - Siseho George

Great news, fully supported. Now come on !Nami≠Nüs Town Council, lets also get rid of Bismarck street (a German Keiser) to Chief Cornelius Frederick Ave (a Nama chief that was murdered at Shark Island) and other street names like Woermann, Hafen ect. What about other places named after individuals like Keetmanshoop, Henties Bay and Mariental. Like to see them changed as well. - Tyronne

I'm very disappointed by these as we were expecting our request going to be heard by the office of the president as per out request that we have filled about EISEB BLOCK ,,we have made request that we the community OR THE RESIDENT of EISEB We want to be pulled out under RIETFONTEIN constituency known as Otjombinde in Omaheke REgion for how long we are going to be under Otjombinde area?? There's know development going or happening in EISEB Block , everything have to go first to Otjombinde and then the left over going to EISEB ,,we are good enough community even we are been seen as maginalise group from Botswana to Namibia we are Namibian we need our own constituency ,,the same happen between Epukiro and Otjinene ,,why these not suppose to happen to EISEB BLOCK?? Politically we are grown up matured enough to be on our own,,who ever the reader and the decision making of constituency division boundary EISEB resident we are very disappointed and we felt discriminated on these,,please mr decision maker add EISEB OR pull out EISEB under Otjombinde,,we need our own councillor who is going to take our problem or bring development in EISEB at Heart,, - Horera woHambandarua

Now you did separate the region, they still need more than that development in Zambezi Region... - westa

if you can rename the caprivi you might aswell succeed it from the rest of namibia. we need development in that region renaming it will not improve the lives of the people! i hate the idea. - john

I congratulate His Excellency for changes, Caprivi is worthy to be changed more especially its (name) much associated with secession, "underdevelopment". Zambezi Region is much associated with what people can see and has lot of benefits to people like fishing, lodges, it connects with other countries for trading. Many young people will not able to describe what Caprivi is all about but can describe Zambezi because they experience it in their daily life not forgetting "STONE CITY", a common picnic place which attracts even neighbors from Zambia, Botswana. - Chrispin

I will applaud the goverment for renaming those regions ann towns to the indegenous names. Mr President we the citzen of this country we need service delivery,were is the priority of our goverment? - Michael Kaapehi

Great. Now our high school students do not know or need to know who Franz Luderitz is anymore. Well history is not important It seems. - zachary

Who was Frans Luderitz? I know about Adolf Luderitz..( from the history books) - Raymond

IT is a good thing that our region, //Karas, was renamed to its original name meaning "Quiver tree". Just a concern of using it correctly as it has been misspelled in two daily papers already, giving it a totally different meaning. - Anita

well done Mr. President this has long been overdue. having colonial names in an independent namibia difies logic. not only that it glorifies our sovereincy but a rich heritage to the current and next generation. i would like to see the strip also reduced and the whole region shifted down to Kavango region. - nestor shikongo

The renaming of the Region is a good idea,but there is a need to educate the nation of these changes through all media. - Matty

It was reali a remarkable and yet wise move made by His Excellency... Viva Comrade - Andre Bezuidenhoudt

Renaming has nothing to do with service delivery but compressing the responsibility to be less might bring services closer, since the Councillor will have less area to deal with. I am just worried about the tone of Okavango West and East, it sound like what East and West Germany was. The neutral name like that given to caprivi should have served well, if uniting people was the way to go. - Tangi Amakali

this is a remarkeble work from our big man, this move will also create employment in the country. long live Pohamba. - geaven Mufalali

The apreciation must be given where it deserves, thanks Pressindent Pohamba and his intire management for their good work by renaming some of our regions to pure Namibian names. - Penny Fabiano

well done comrade president, its also our view that this delimitation of our country into new regions and constituencies truly reflect the wishes of the Namibian people - Kandume

As a patriotic citizen i warmly welcome the new demarcations from the Delimitation Commission announced on thursday. Opuwo Rural is long over due and things are destant to change in the near future for kunene. Thank you dear Leaders for those development driven changes. - Urikee Tjazapi

I hope this approval will create more jobs for unemployed graduates in the affected regions - Ndilimeke

My question is was the community people consulted on the changing of names, or those that was appointed only consulted the leaders in the regions, this country belongs to all of us and we appointed the the leaders in this country, so please dont do as you please......what is done is done, but still....consult the people - Scan Pages

Kavango is a vast area, and one of the regions that are under developed. Poverty is high, teenage pregnancy have reached over 35%, and health services leave much to be desired. The decision to divide the region in two is welcomed because its long overdue. My wish was at least to have three regions, then we can talk of bringing the government services closer to the people. Well, all is not lost, the future will tell as we are aiming to achieve vision 2030, it is not too late to consider, because unemployment, especially among the youth could have been addressed big time if the region was divided into three! - Kutenda Pankratius

I welcome the renaming of the regions and formation of New constituencies, which will bring the much needed services to the people. My only worry is, why was Windhoek not renamed to either Aigams or Otjomuise since Windhoek, as we know it is a small town in South Africa (Winter-hook)? Why do we still Karasburg town in the new //Karas Region? - Mchangani Chikusi

The demarcation of Kavango into two regions is indeed a good decision from the Head of State and it is long overdue. Mpasi - Mpasi

we us fully Namibians, we support the new changes to the regions. Let us support every step the government is making, because it always consult the citizens of this country. Viva comrade President Pohamba - Mupo Conrad

Jolly weldone Cdes, our ancestors finally got their names back. - Maiba

good idea, but a great confusion to the leaners especially those at primary level. - Kandafa

Since I am from Kavango, I support the way its devided. The name Kavango is still retained and surely this will bring development to the previously big region and made it so difficult to look after. Surely all Kavangos or living there must be happy about this, if not than they must just keep the silence and provide the needed support. - Lukas

Good move cde Pohamba, Our regions and towns must really be unique as its people. we dont want Town or street names that are shared else where in Europe or sosso. j - Duxlee

I wholeheartedly appreciate H. E. the President's decision for approving the renaming of Caprive Region to Zambezi Region, because Caprivi was the name of a German Chancellor, whose name indeed was Coun Leo Von Caprive. - Phillipus Uusiku

it is a remarkable mile stone,the government has done to reveal the true nature of Namibia,especially with the changes of names in some regions,congratulation for the job well done. - ladislaus

After reading the reasons for changes, I have no objection, in fact its good. Means also that we should not refer to people from the Zambezi Region as Caprivians. - Gerda

well its a good idea that the region has been divided into two parts, but my concern is specifically Mukwe constituency there was suppose be something done about it. it is still a vast constituency. - mukoya Albert

This committee did a good work, we do not want the colonial name in our country. - Dappsy

There we go again.re name everything. - zox

Very good! It appears that the people of the regions had been considered! What about the street names? DON'T FORGET TO LOG THOSE CHANGES ALSO ONTO GOOGLE MAPS AND GPS COORDINATES! - Raymond